"Very disappointed with the knee jerk decision made by the Commissaire at this weekends British Downhill Series event at Revolution Bike Park. After announcing that Philip Atwill won the event and then giving out another run to a rider after running wide on a corner and getting caught up in the course tape. After hearing from the marshall who saw the incident that the tape 'may' have been slightly loose and hanging down it was not blown out onto the track (SAME FOR ALL RIDERS) This rider convinced the marshall he was due a re run and when the marshall got asked by the Commissaire "did the tape cause an obstruction to the rider" he answered yes which of course it did because the rider rode into it and had the course tape not been there he wouldn't have crashed. It's just not acceptable for a rider to get a sighting lap on a wet track and then race 30 minutes later on a drying track especially not under these circumstances. This didn't just cheat Phil out of his first BDS win but was completely unfair to every other rider in the elite category. No doubt all other riders could have knocked quite a bit of time off their first race times given a second run after feeling out the wet conditions. Should Phil have crashed due to catching his handle bar on the course tape under the same circumstances we would have took it on the chin and brought it to the next round. In future the commissaire should take longer to assess the situation and property speak to the marshall about what happened, it has already been admitted that after speaking to the marshall in detail that a re run would not have been issued. This isn't a dig at the team or this rider but to the commissaire at the event. Don't normally like making these things public but only those who know Phil well will understand how much effort he puts into his racing and this weekend not only has his first BDS win been robbed from him but also bonuses and points towards the overall that Phil would now be closer to leading hadn't the commissaire made this mistake."
Here's the track preview from the weekend. Follow Matt Simmonds down the track as blistering pace... Si wasn't too far behind we promise.
Final Results
Schwalbe Tyres Elite MenMarc Beaumont 2:43.857
Phil Atwill 2:45.520
Adam Brayton 2:46.107
Schwalbe Tyres Elite WomenManon Carpenter 3:25.325
Lucy Drees 3:47.938
Bocci Skelton 4:12.649
Spank Junior MenJoe Breeden 2:52.766
Charlie Hatton 2:53.974
James Purvis 2:58.641
Rachel Atherton Junior WomenCairn Bell 3:49.146
Aston Tutt 3:56.028
Megan James 4:05.852
X-Fusion Expert MenLewis Boyce 3:00.087
Calum Mcgee 3:01.825
Matt Rushton 3:02.833
Uberbike Open WomenMartha Gill 4:38.208
Lindsay Hanley 4:43.802
Ellie Dewdney 4:50.685
DMR Juvenile BoysChris Cumming 3:08.060
Harry Barrett 3:14.766
Luke Williamson 3:25.841
Kore Components Grand Veteran MenRichard Binns 3:49.844
Mick Waud 4:22.427
Steve Felstead 4:54.212
Dainese Veteran MenWill Longdon 3:15.849
Andrew Titley 3:15.997
Mark Weightman 3:19.630
Super Alloy Springs Youth BoysKade Edwards 3:01.930
Jamie Edmonson 3:03.489
Luke Birkett 3:06.583
NS Bikes Master MenNeil White 3:02.450
Adam Smith 3:05.321
Peter Walton 3:08.673
PRO Tharsis Senior MenAndrew Cooper 3:03.501
Kieran Davies 3:09.422
Jay Teague 3:12.337
Full results
Here.
Next round will be on the 17th - 18th of September at Llangollen.
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